The science of marathon performance: physiological mechanisms, pacing strategies, and fatigue regulation

Marathon and long-distance running represent demanding models of human endurance capacity, requiring the coordinated interaction of physiological, biomechanical, nutritional, psychological, and environmental factors throughout prolonged exercise. In recent years, scientific interest in marathon performance has intensified due to unprecedented achievements in elite distance running, the growing participation of recreational and master athletes, technological innovations such as advanced footwear and wearable sensors, and increasing attention to pacing regulation, fatigue resistance, recovery, and individualized training strategies.

This Research Topic aims to synthesize current evidence and emerging insights on the determinants of marathon and long-distance running performance, with emphasis on the multifactorial mechanisms that influence training adaptation, race-day performance, fatigue development, and performance sustainability. We welcome studies examining endurance physiology, running economy, cardiovascular and metabolic responses, substrate utilization, thermoregulation, neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage, hydration, nutrition, recovery, and the relationship between training load, adaptation, and competitive outcomes.

A central focus of this Research Topic is the regulation and optimization of performance during prolonged running. Contributions addressing pacing strategies, negative splits, late-race slowing, fatigue resistance, perceived exertion, decision-making, psychological regulation, and the maintenance of performance under physiological and cognitive strain are particularly encouraged. Studies involving elite, sub-elite, recreational, master, female, and diverse or clinical athlete populations are within scope, provided they contribute to a comprehensive understanding of endurance performance, preparation, recovery, and athlete health.

We also encourage submissions exploring innovative and translational approaches in endurance running, including wearable technology, artificial intelligence, field-based monitoring, biomechanical assessment, advanced training analytics, recovery optimization, and evidence-based strategies for coaches, clinicians, and practitioners. Both controlled laboratory investigations and real-world field studies are welcome, as are original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, narrative reviews, brief research reports, perspectives, and methodological papers.

By integrating physiological, biomechanical, technological, and applied perspectives, this Research Topic seeks to advance the holistic understanding of marathon and long-distance running performance and provide evidence-informed guidance for researchers, coaches, clinicians, and endurance athletes.

This Research Topic welcomes submissions addressing, but not limited to:
• Physiological and biomechanical determinants of marathon and long-distance running performance
• Pacing strategies, negative splits, fatigue resistance, and late-race slowing
• Running economy, substrate utilization, thermoregulation, hydration, and nutrition
• Neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage, recovery, and performance sustainability
• Training load, periodization, adaptation, and race preparation
• Wearable technology, artificial intelligence, field-based monitoring, and training analytics
• Sex-, age-, and performance-level differences in endurance running
• Practical and translational approaches for coaches, clinicians, athletes, and practitioners

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: marathon performance; endurance running; pacing regulation; fatigue resistance; endurance physiology; running economy; training adaptation; recovery strategies; wearable technology; performance analytics; thermoregulation; neuromuscular fatigue; athlete m

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.